Cow stanchion



A. NICKELL Cow STANCHION April 291, 1947.

Filed Feb. 16, 1944 SKI/.I

IN V EN TOR.

Patented pr. 29, i947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC e COW STANCHION Arthur Nickell, Amelia, ohio U .v Application February 16, 1944, Serial No. V522,57971 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a stanchion for conning cows or other domestic animals in a fixed position in a cowshed or similar building during milking, feeding and the like. The invention is particularly directed to a structure of this type which may be quickly and cheaply manufactured and which has certain important advantages not found in similar devices as heretofore manufactured.

In the construction of a cow stanchicnvit is particularly important that the latching means utilized to hold the stanchion in closed position when the animal is conned thereinbe at least equally as strong as the other portions of the stanchion. The reason forthis is that a domestic animal such as a cow when confined. in a stanchion tends to buck and twist in all directions, exerting a substantial strain against all portions of the stanchion. Ifthere is any point of Weakness, the animals activities will inevitably cause a rupture at that point and the device will be rendered inoperative. It is also essential that the locking means be very strong and secure against accidental unlatching but at the same time be conveniently operable with slight effort by the attendant as it is frequently necessary to latch or unlatch the locking means with one hand while maintaining a hold on the animal with the other. Another desirable characteristic of the latching means is that it should be readily unlatchable regardless of thepvosnition of the animal in the stanchion. For example, the latch should work just as readily when the animal is rearing back asl when she is standing quietly.

With the purpose of providing a cow stanchion which includes all of the advantages just enumerated and certain other advantages which will be commented on subsequently,` one of the objects of the present invention has been to pro-v vide a cow stanchion in which thelatching means or lock is of the sleeve type, the sleeve being slidable on the main elements of the stanchion to provide alternate latching or unlatching as desired. Y

Another object of the invention has been to provide a latching meansof the general type described which, in addition to providing the lock for opening and closing the stanchion, also serves as a reenforcing element over the open portion of the stanchion. v ,Y

Another object has been to provide a stanchion latch which is strong and sure in its operation, particularly easy to connect and disconnect, and equally effective regardless of the extent and dil 2 Y l rection of the stress exerted against the stanchion by the animal conned therein.

Another object has been to provide a stanchion latch in which a particularly eective locking arrangement is obtained with a minimum of effort on the part of the attendant. i

Another object has been to provide a stanchion in which the number of 'partshas been reduced and simplied t0 greatly facilitate the problem of manufacture. g Y

Other and furtherobjects and advantages will be apparent from the further and more detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a Vfront elevation of the stanchion in locked'position, the Vpositionof the gatebar and accessory parts in open position being indicated by broken lines. y i t Figure 2 is an venlarged detailed view oi.r the latching arrangement with the latch in open position. y 4 t Figure 3 is a sectional View alongthe line 3 3,

Figure 2. v Y

Figure 4 is a sectional View along the line Ile-4, Figure 2. y

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the lin'e 5*-5, Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings for the further and more detailed description ofl the Yinvention of which a preferred embodiment is therein illustrated, the stanchion includes a generally `('5- shaped collar element indicated as I0. 'I'his element ispreferably'formed from hollow steel pip'e of a conventional type and dimensions., Pivotal attachment elements I I are providedrat the upper and lower surfaces of the collar forixing the stanchion in operative position. Conventionally, the attachment elements are secured to rails or beams, the opening for the enclosure .of thehead and neck of the animal being disposedat anappropriate height from the ground. I

A gate bar element I2 formed from Vthe same material as the C-shaped collar is pivotally secured to the latter element at I3. A skirt type stop means I4 may be Vsecured to the gateV bar adjacent the point of pivotal connection between the elements I and I2'forthe purpose of rpreventing the outward movement of the gate bar I2 beyond the desired point. A sleeve type lockV I5 slidably engages.V over the `abutting edges yof the elements I0 and I2 for maintaining the stanchion in locked position. This sleeve is preferably hollow pipe of the same type as that used in the construction of elements I0 and I2 except 3 that it is of a slightly larger size to permit a snug t over the ends of the elements enclosed.

The details of the latch are best illustrated in Figure 2. Two vertical slots I6 and I'I are formed through the outer surface of the sleeve in the manner illustrated. The slot I6 is extended lat erally to form the diagonal slot I8 and the horizontal slot I9, the slot I8 being directed upwardly in angular fashion. The slot II may also be extended laterally to form the horizontal portion 20. Pins 2| and 22 are extended from the outer surface of the elements I and I2 respectively for engagement with the horizontal por-A tions of the slots I6 and Il. Both pins 2| and 22 are extended through the center of the elements III -and I2 respectively and preferably are welded to the opposite side of these elements, an aperture 23 being provided for this purpose in the case of the pin 2|. No such aperture is necessaly in the case of the pin 22 because it is readily accessible to the welding operation when the gate bar element I2 is in open position.

To lock the stanchion the gate bar element I2 is rst swung to vertical position, the sleeve element I5 being at that time positioned as indicated in Figure 2 with the horizontal slot I 9 engaging the pin 2|. The downwardly extending skirt 26 of the element I5 facilitates alignment between the elements I0 and I2. After alignment of the gate bar, they sleeve I5 is then rotated slightly in a clockwise direction to position the pin 2| in the verticalslot I6. The entire sleeve is then moved downwardly and when the pin 22 has reached the `upper end of the slot I1 the sleeve is then rotated in a counterclockwise direction to fully engage the pins 2| and 22 in the slots I8 and 20, respectively. As the pin 2| is engaged in theslot I8 it is necessary to exert a certain amount of downward pressure on the sleeve in its counterclockwise rotation to force the pin to the end of the slot. It is a feature of the latch construction to provide at least two pins which are engaged simultaneously by horizontal portions `of their corresponding slots. In the preferred embodiment one of these pins is shown as positioned on the collar member and one on the gate bar. In the preferred embodiment also, one of these horizontal slots extends diagonally (either upwardly or downwardly) whereas the other extends horizontally only, When two pins are inserted into these two differently inclined slots lonly slightly widerthan the pins a frictional engagement is provided between the pins and the sides of the slots which greatly strengthens the security of the latch.

In unlocking, the sleeve is rotated in a counterclockwise direction under upward pressure, slid upwardly and then turned in a clockwise direction to assume the position shown in Figure 2.

When the gate bar I2 is fully extended the U- shaped prong 24 may engage with a stake 25 located in an adjacent position. This substantially prevents twisting of the stanchion while the animal isbeing disengaged and leaves the gate bar in a convenient position for attachment when it is again -desired to conne the animal.

One of the principal advantages of the device is its simplicity. Only three primary parts are required and these may be fabricated cheaply and conveniently from ordinary materials. The sleeve 7 type of lock is particularly appropriate to a structhe 'sides of the slots.

4 ture of this sort because, in the first place, it strengthens greatly the point of union between the xed member I0 and the movable member I2. In addition, it is a type of lock which may be quickly and easily manipulated with one hand during either the latching or unlocking operation. The particular type of sleeve lock shown is extremely effective in that due to the conguration of the slot I8 it provi-des a true locked engagement between the members and one which cannot be disengaged by the conned animal. Furthermore the latching and unlatching operations are not aected by the stresses exerted by the animal because once the sleeve has engaged the ends of the elements I0 and I2 the latching or vunlatching is simply a matter of manual manipulation of the sleeve.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. In a cow stanchion, a collar member of general C-conguration, a gate bar swingable across the opening in said member, a slidable and rotatable sleeve for engaging 4over the adjoining open ends of the collar member and gate bar, pins positioned on the outer surface of said open ends, slots in said sleeve for engagement with the pins when the gate bar is in closed position, said slots having vertical portions permitting vertical movement of the sleeve when the pins are positioned in the slots, one of said slots having a portion extending diagonally laterally from the verticall portion and the other of said slots having a portion extending substantially horizontally from the vertical portion forl locking engagement with the pins upon rotation of the sleeve.

2. In a cowstanchion, a collar member of general C-'conflguratio'n, a 'gate bar swingable across the opening in 'said member, a slidable and rotatable sleeve for engaging over the 'adjoining open ends of the collar' member and gate bar, pins positioned on the outer surface of said open ends, slots' in said 'sleeve for engagement with the pins when the gate bar in closed position, said slots having vertical portions to permit vertical movenicht of the sleeve, Aone of said slots having a portion extending diagonally laterally from the vertical portion and another of said slots having a portion extending directly horizontally from the vertical portion whereby simultaneous direction of the pins into both of 'said slots effects a frictional engagement between the pins and REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record, in the file of this patent:

UNITEDA STATES PATENTS British oct. 26, 1922 

